STAFF and customers were threatened with guns during a raid at Blackwell Post Office on Friday - the third armed robbery in Bromsgrove in 11 days.

Four men wearing balaclavas carried out the attack at the Greenhill post office at around 12.30pm. They walked into the shop and demanded cash.

The men, who are described as being about six feet tall and wearing dark coloured clothing, grabbed the money, got into a green coloured Rover 218 and sped off.

The till drawer was found in Spirehouse Lane near Burcot and the car, which had a smashed back window, was found abandoned at 2.20pm in the car park of North East Worcestershire College, in School Drive, Bromsgrove. Police think the offenders made off in a white Renault Berlingo van.

Owner of Blackwell Post Office Paul Baker declined to give a comment but spokeswoman for Post Office Ltd, Jane Thomas, said: "It is very distressing for the staff and customers and we will be offering them all the support we can to help them come to terms with the ordeal."

She added: "The store will remain closed until the counter screen, which was damaged during the raid, has been fixed."

One of the men who got into the Berlingo is described as a light skinned black man and about five feet ten inches tall, in his mid 20s, with tight cropped hair, wearing a red and white t-shirt.

Detective Inspector Tony Love of Bromsgrove police said: "The Rover car has been damaged and it may be that they hit another car. If that was you, please contact the police."

He added: "I would also like to hear from anyone who may have seen the route the green Rover took in order to get to the college from the post office. I am certain that people would have noticed the car being driven around, possibly at speed."

Anyone with information should call Bromsgrove police on 08457 444888.

l A 24-year-old Birmingham man appeared at Redditch Magistrates Court yesterday charged with armed robbery. This was in connection with the incident at Blackwell. He was remanded in custody to face trial at Worcester Crown Court next Tuesday, October 12.